The Snakes and Ladders Expedition: Spero Wilderness Journey

[@davidpicot5457]

What an incredible journey. The scenery looked incredible. Thanks for sharing. There are few epic long packrafting expeditions like these shared in Australia. Well done 👏 Was the entirely filmed in a GoPro? Which model?

[@Irenabyss]

Glad you enjoyed it. On land it was filmed mainly on an iPhone 14 and iPhone 12 (also doubled as maps) and on rivers a GoPro 11 and a GoPro 10. The GoPro11 5.3k mode allows lots of leeway. Some of the evening shots were on a Sony a7RIV. The panned still images at start were 35mm Kodachrome and the old 1960's Svenor movies was on 16mm film from LWC archives.

[@davidpicot5457]

Wow. That explains the heavy packs. Fantastic job 👏

[@And_so_itgoes]

Could watch a 10 hour version of this trip easily

[@jackbett2674]

Amazing. Congrats. Epic achievement!

[@Rob.Parsons]

Mammoth effort boys. Huge itinerary, worst conditions and a never give up attitude. Well done 👏

[@petrogale6074]

Thank you. Incredible effort and production

[@robertwilson822]

Awesome stuff! I enjoyed the video very much.

[@freepete1]

A stunning film. This and the path of the piners are next level productions. Congratulations and thanks.

[@Irenabyss]

Thank you @freepete1 - really glad you appreciated both these films.

[@caseyspinks9810]

Amazing. Congratulations, that is a massive achievement. Well done, brilliant video

[@peterdevries923]

Fantastic video fellas 👏 hey do you have a link to the old video footage that shows the Bombardier and the Lewis river bridge ? That was fascinating 👏

[@Irenabyss]

I was part of a group involved in digitising 1960s and 70s colour films of Tas. They are amazing. You can purchase them from www.launcestonwalkingclub.org.au/index.php/wwt and I think Ian has them on ebay too.

[@peterdevries923]

@Irenabyss oh wow , thankyou for that ! Would you know which DVD number I would have to purchase to see the old Low Rocky track and Bombardier etc ? Or is there a separate digitised film that shows the original mining and lighthouse expeditions back in the 60's ? Thankyou

[@Irenabyss]

@@peterdevries923 I think the movies you want are Min.ner.ane.e from 1979 and West Coast Mission from 1967.

[@peterdevries923]

Thankyou so much mate ! I will arrange to purchase them.

[@karinabritton946]

Oh wow 😊. Thank you for sharing your adventure with us. Stunning scenery, hard work... Totally worth it. Thanks again 😁

[@duncanspinks1095]

What an epic adventure. Congratulations men. Thanks for documenting this👏👏

[@cheshunt5597]

Spectacular video. The whole walk was stunning landscapes, but that last part from the Spero to Macquarie Harbour is worthy of its own film.

[@petemellows]

Just incredible. The fact you slept together for three weeks is a feat in itself! And stunning scenery too. Magnificent.

[@Irenabyss]

HaHa - the main contention was who got to go and sit in the tent door way and take cold wet gear off first!

[@shayne4288]

Magnificent!! What a cracking effort, in extreme country and relentless weather. You have captured this stunning place so well.

[@zacsitinerantadventures1177]

Another amazing film of an epic expedition, very inspirational 👏

[@francesdaily7434]

wonderful - congratulations. Tas is a very very special place. thanks for sharing with us all

[@burntmyer]

Well done. Certainly an inspiration for our trip to the Spero Wilderness.

[@Irenabyss]

I hope you have optimal water levels.

[@burntmyer]

@@Irenabyss heres hoping. Likely to be a scratchy affair. Buy judging by your video the scenery and sense of being in a very remote place will be exciting

[@HikingandCampingwithNikki]

Absolutely amazing. Such an epic journey. Thank you for sharing.

[@richardvietz11]

That was just mazing! and so enjoyable ;). Thank you!...

[@ERIKOFFTRACK]

What an epic adventure! Really enjoyable to sit back and watch you make your way through this incredible country! Can't believe you shared a tent for 3 weeks. That's a feat in it self!

[@Irenabyss]

Glad you enjoyed - the main challenge of the larger tent was hunting around for somewhere with a big enough footprint for it each night. We were all pretty happy just to have shelter and get warm but yes by end everyone looking forward to separate comfortable beds.

[@johnsullivan7633]

I enjoyed your video and commentary on the expedition. You may be aware of two previous expeditions in the same region, one by T.B. Moore between Jan and May 1900 when he surveyed a track between Birch inlet and Kelly Basin. In 1952, Terry Woodward and his company made an attempt to follow the same route. An account of their trip is published in the December 1953 edition of the Tasmanian Tramp.

[@Irenabyss]

Thank you for the positive feedback. I was aware of some of Moore's route from researching Surveyor Jone's route for the previous video (Neil's Tunnel) and from looking up the origins of the names but not the HWC trip (I have several old Tasmanian Tramps including an index but unfortunately not No.11) but I will try to find a copy.

[@stevebennett2163]

What an epic! Magnificent production.

[@kimberleyitdude]

Stunning video of this amazing part of Tasmania. Thanks for sharing your journey.

[@GaryTischer]

Brilliant video of an epic journey - thanks for taking us along. Really enjoyed your commentary on the original inhabitants,

[@Irenabyss]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed. It was amazing to stand at those sites

[@underdgk9]

What an amazing adventure! I hope one day it is ALL protected. A very well-made video as well( the best I've seen in a decade). Good on ya.

[@michaelhoney9399]

Huge effort lads, what an epic! Thankyou for sharing this adventure with us

[@sergianic]

Where is Castle Mountain ( grid ref ) ? Listmap only knows the one near the Eldons.

[@Irenabyss]

Apologies - maps call it Castle Hill. It is 5km east of Mt Hean. Named Castle Hill is at 408712E 5221687N and is 560m - it has large block like buttress on it which is probably part of name. Unnamed high point 2km north of it at 761m exceeds Mt Hean (748m)

[@sergianic]

Thanks for that. I visited Castle Hill in 2009 with a Mt Hean group. Where I see it in the video, indicated to the left of the Lawson Range, I can't place the viewer's location. I'll have another gander. Superlative video. @@Irenabyss

[@Irenabyss]

Do you mean the labelled view at 12:08 (this is taken from the northern point of DeWitt range in ~2005) or the more distant view south from Mt Lewis at 20:00 where Castle is hard to distinguish from Hean?@@sergianic

[@sergianic]

Thanks, yes. Looking back from Mt Lewis. All sorted. // I can see it was a shot from 6 months prior, looking back from the Charles Range. ( Reached from the Gordon/Franklin?) at 20'05" .

[@isiamook8049]

Such a great documentary ! When was this expedition ? Exactly a year ago my partner and I (we are French) hiked all the west coast from Cockle Creek to Cape Grim. It was really nice to watch your videos, see all the gulches and rivers we had to cross... An epic journey ! It took us 25 days from Melaleuca to Strahan.

[@Irenabyss]

We went from mid April into May ‘23, not long after you would have reached Strahan. We saw your post on social media before our trip (surrounded by your kit) and then noted your names in the log book at that old hut. It’s an amazing bit of coastline and we’re keen to return one day. 25 days sounds about right, we pushed hard with the short daylight hours to do it in 21 (and by paddling up Port Davey which we probably saved a day or 2 compared to crossing the Lost World). Well done on your epic -it’s great to hear from you.

[@zackmcmillen9634]

Why does the river have a red like color??

[@Irenabyss]

The 'tea-colour' is from tannins that wash from the button grass plains. Very characteristic of nearly all southern and western Tasmanian rivers

[@Irenabyss]

Tannins from the button grass plains

[@widetie]

Inspirational! Never doubt the appreciation of us all being able to share your exploits into such infrequently visited wilderness.